Thomas "Tom" John Rakuc

Thomas “Tom” John Rakuc, 59, of Byron, IL was born on October 5, 1961, in Rockford, IL, to Walter and Lidia (Litwinchuk) Rakuc. Tom married Lynn Brandon on September 6,1986 at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Rockford, IL. He passed away on December 26, 2020 surrounded by his family.

Tom was the ultimate craftsman and loved to work with his hands. There was nothing he couldn’t build or fix. He took great pride in his work which was well respected and done to perfection every time.

Never has the phrase “actions speak louder than words” been lived more truly than through the life of Tom Rakuc. Those who knew him best will tell you he was the most reliable and action oriented person they’d ever known. Whether you needed help after a full day of work or at 6 am on a Saturday, he was always available to lend a hand.

Tom’s heart belonged to his family. His love and dedication to his daughters and grandchildren was unmatched. Whether it be all of the dance and cheerleading competitions when his girls were young or the many hours devoted to making their homes “just right”, Tom was always the strong center of his family. He was “Papa Tom” to all the children that Lynn cared for throughout the years. He loved them and was there for all the important moments in their lives just as he was for his own children and grandchildren. He will be missed by many.

Tom is survived by the love of his life and wife of 34 years, Lynn; daughters, Ciara (Jared) Cacciatore and Chelsea (Nate) Breiby; grandchildren, Nash Thomas, Elliette Mae, Cal Thomas, and another on the way; parents, Walter and Lidia Rakuc; siblings Linda Spickler and Jim (Corinne) Rakuc; brother and sister-in-law Bryan (Debi) Trenholm; loyal companion, Maize, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family extends a special thank you to family friend, Cindy Mann, for taking such good care of Tom, and to his employer, Larson and Larson Builders, Inc. for all their help and support. Tom was preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter and Jadwiga Rakuc, and Anton and Melania Litwinchuk, brother-in-law, Mike Spickler, and father and mother-in-law, Murel and Betty Smith. All services will be private with a celebration of life to take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to Tom’s family. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.